Category: Blogs

How should NATO respond to the crisis between Turkey and Syria?

By Ross Wilson, New Atlanticist

From Ross Wilson, New Atlanticist:  Just as Ankara took the June 22 Syrian downing of a Turkish F-4 fighter jet to Brussels as a way to galvanize NATO solidarity at a time of rising turmoil on its southern frontier, so it did immediately after the October 3 exchange with Syria.

Iran Sanctions Unprecedented and Crippling; But Are They Effective?

By Ronak Desai

In a move that will further tighten the web of sanctions currently in place against Iran, the Obama administration has designated the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) “an agent or affiliate” of Iran’s notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Treasury Department’s designation potentially exposes foreign institutions conducting business with the NIOC and its subsidiaries to […]

Parliament Remade: Egypt’s Shifting Political Forces

By Tarek Radwan

“Liberal parties have struggled to find their footing in Egypt’s post-revolution political atmosphere due to inadequate time to form a loyal constituency,” said Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East’s Visiting Fellow, Magdy Samaan, during a roundtable discussion moderated by Hariri Center Director, Michele Dunne, held on October 1. Elijah Zarwan, Senior Fellow for the […]

Turkey’s Parliament authorizes military operations in Syria

By Mehmet Guzel and Suzan Fraser, the AP

Top News: Morsi Appoints Emergency Court Judges

By Egypt Source

An Egyptian rights group has sued to repeal a presidential order that would effectively reinstate the country’s reviled state of emergency. Although the state of emergency was lifted in May of this year, President Mohamed Morsy issued a presidential order on 22 September that appointed 3,649 judges to seats in State Security Emergency Courts.

Syrian Mortar Attack on Turkey Adds New Dimension to Conflict

By Ross Wilson

The October 3 spillover of violence in Syria across the border to Turkey has added a new edge to the campaign Prime Minister Erdoğan’s Administration has been waging to convince its allies and friends that Syria is spinning out of control, increasingly threatening regional peace and stability, and warranting a firmer response.

Clinton: ‘All responsible nations need to band together’ to deal with Assad regime

By the Department of State

From the Department of State:  With respect to what happened on the Turkey-Syria border, we are outraged that the Syrians have been shooting across the border.

NATO strongly condemns Syrian shelling which killed five in Turkey

By NATO